THE RED ROAD

by Kahrin Spear

As spoken by Oglala Sioux medicine man, Black Elk, to be walking The Red Road is to live a spiritual life embodying the Seven Sacred Virtues of the Lakota: 

Wóčhekiya : Prayer

Wičákha : Honesty

Wahwala : Humility

Waúnšila : Compassion

Waóhola : Respect

Wawokiye : Generosity

Wóksape : Wisdom

In my debut exhibition The Red Road, I express my connection to this profound Native American philosophy. Combining fabric and wax, my art intends to encapsulate the essence of these virtues and their unique role in creating a life of harmony. 

My expression takes form through 'bahboos,' mystical beings that embody the spirit in its most ethereal aspects—neutral, formless, androgynous, and deeply mysterious. Each bahboo is a visual representation of a virtue, crafted to evoke contemplation on how these virtues manifest in our lives and our relationship to those around us.

The medium of my work intends to bridge the earthly and divine. Solid walnut frames ground the artworks, symbolizing our earthly existence, while layers of filtered beeswax and soy wax create a soft, ethereal backdrop, representing the heavenly spiritual realms I visit often in meditation. The bahboos themselves are constructed from fabric scraps from Cleveland fashion designer William Frederick, carefully chosen to convey the virtues through their colors and textures.

The Red Road is an invitation to reflect on your own spirituality and connection to the way of harmony. It is my hope that this exhibition serves as a mirror, encouraging introspection on our unique contributions as threads woven in and through the fabric of life.